The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke, Vol. 07 (of 12)

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THE WORKS

OF

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

EDMUND BURKE


IN TWELVE VOLUMES

VOLUME THE SEVENTH


[Illustration: Burke Coat of Arms.]


LONDON
JOHN C. NIMMO
14, KING WILLIAM STREET, STRAND, W.C.
MDCCCLXXXVII




CONTENTS OF VOL. VII


FRAGMENTS AND NOTES OF SPEECHES IN PARLIAMENT.

  SPEECH ON THE ACTS OF UNIFORMITY, February 6, 1772                   3

  SPEECH ON A BILL FOR THE RELIEF OF PROTESTANT DISSENTERS,
    March 7, 1773                                                     21

  SPEECH ON A MOTION FOR LEAVE TO BRING IN A BILL TO REPEAL AND
    ALTER CERTAIN ACTS RESPECTING RELIGIOUS OPINIONS, UPON THE
    OCCASION OF A PETITION OF THE UNITARIAN SOCIETY, May 11, 1792     39

  SPEECH RELATIVE TO THE MIDDLESEX ELECTION, February 7, 1771         59

  SPEECH ON A BILL FOR SHORTENING THE DURATION OF PARLIAMENTS,
    May 8, 1780                                                       69

  SPEECH ON A MOTION FOR A COMMITTEE TO INQUIRE INTO THE STATE OF
    THE REPRESENTATION OF THE COMMONS IN PARLIAMENT, May 7, 1782      89

  SPEECH ON A MOTION FOR LEAVE TO BRING IN A BILL FOR EXPLAINING
    THE POWERS OF JURIES IN PROSECUTIONS FOR LIBELS, March 7, 1771.
    TOGETHER WITH A LETTER IN VINDICATION OF THAT MEASURE, AND A
    COPY OF THE PROPOSED BILL                                        105

  SPEECH ON A BILL FOR THE REPEAL OF THE MARRIAGE ACT,
    June 15, 1781                                                    129

  SPEECH ON A MOTION FOR LEAVE TO BRING IN A BILL TO QUIET THE
    POSSESSIONS OF THE SUBJECT AGAINST DORMANT CLAIMS OF THE CHURCH,
    February 17, 1772                                                137


HINTS FOR AN ESSAY ON THE DRAMA                                      143


AN ESSAY TOWARDS AN ABRIDGMENT OF THE ENGLISH HISTORY. IN THREE BOOKS.

                             BOOK I.

CHAP.  I. Causes of the Connection between the Romans and
          Britons.--Cæsar's two Invasions of Britain                 159

      II. Some Account of the Ancient Inhabitants of Britain         170

     III. The Reduction of Britain by the Romans                     189

      IV. The Fall of the Roman Power in Britain                     214

                             BOOK II.

CHAP.   I. The Entry and Settlement of the Saxons, and their
          Conversion to Christianity                                 227

      II. Establishment of Christianity--of Monastic Institutions
          --and of their Effects                                     240

     III. Series of Anglo-Saxon Kings from Ethelbert to Alfred:
          with the Invasion of the Danes                             255

      IV. Reign of King Alfred                                       261

       V. Succession of Kings from Alfred to Harold                  269

      VI. Harold II.--Invasion of the Normans.--Account of that
          People, and of the State of England at the Time of the
          Invasion                                                   280

     VII. Of the Laws and Institutions of the Saxons                 291

                            BOOK III.

CHAP.  I. View of the State of Europe at the Time of the Norman
          Invasion                                                   327

      II. Reign of William the Conqueror                             335

     III. Reign of William the Second, surnamed Rufus                364

      IV. Reign of Henry I                                           375

       V. Reign of Stephen                                           386

      VI. Reign of Henry II                                          394

     VII. Reign of Richard I                                         425

    VIII. Reign of John                                              437

      IX. Fragment.--An Essay towards an History of the Laws of
          England                                                    475




FRAGMENTS AND NOTES

OF

SPEECHES.


During the period of Mr. Burke's Parliamentary labors, some alterations
in the Acts of Uniformity, and the repeal of the Test and Corporation
Acts, were agitated at various times in the House of Commons. It appears
from the state of his manuscript papers, that he had designed to publish
some of the Speeches which he delivered in those discussions, and with
that view had preserved the following Fragments and detached Notes,
which are now given to the public with as much order and connection as
their imperfect condition renders them capable of receiving. The
Speeches on the Middlesex Election, on shortening the Duration of
Parliaments, on the Reform of the Representation in Parliament, on the
Bill f